Insurance to cover some costs for train station

The town’s insurance company has agreed to cover the cost of insulation in the new train station, but the fate of the fire suppression sprinkler system is “still being discussed.”
Town Manager John Hawley said the company has agreed to provide the town, this week, with a letter stating what it will and will not cover in the train station rebuild.
The old train station was gutted in November during an early-morning electrical fire.
At that time, the insurance company agreed to cover the cost of rebuilding the station, but only as it was prior to the fire. Since there was no insulation or sprinkler system in the old station, the company did not intend to cover that cost.
Even though there was no system in the old structure, it is the town’s position that a fire suppression system should be covered by insurance because the system is necessitated by state building codes.
A sprinkler system wasn’t required in the old building because it pre-dated building codes and was exempt by virtue of grandfathering. Now that it has to be rebuilt, it will have to meet all code requirements.
Hawley said the company has now agreed to pay for insulation in the walls, but they are continuing to discuss the sprinkler system, which will cost around $80,000 to $105,000.
“I’ve provided them with information that shows we won’t be able to use (the station) as we did before without a sprinkler system,” Hawley said. He was referring to the fact fire codes will not allow the station to be used for public events without a fire suppression system.
He said he thinks the company is re-considering its decision.
The company also will not cover some of the architectural costs, which Hawley estimated at $5,000 to $10,000.

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Insurance to cover some costs for train station

The town’s insurance company has agreed to cover the cost of insulation in the new train station, but the fate of the fire suppression sprinkler system is “still being discussed.”
Town Manager John Hawley said the company has agreed to provide the town, this week, with a letter stating what it will and will not cover in the train station rebuild.
The old train station was gutted in November during an early-morning electrical fire.
At that time, the insurance company agreed to cover the cost of rebuilding the station, but only as it was prior to the fire. Since there was no insulation or sprinkler system in the old station, the company did not intend to cover that cost.
Even though there was no system in the old structure, it is the town’s position that a fire suppression system should be covered by insurance because the system is necessitated by state building codes.
A sprinkler system wasn’t required in the old building because it pre-dated building codes and was exempt by virtue of grandfathering. Now that it has to be rebuilt, it will have to meet all code requirements.
Hawley said the company has now agreed to pay for insulation in the walls, but they are continuing to discuss the sprinkler system, which will cost around $80,000 to $105,000.
“I’ve provided them with information that shows we won’t be able to use (the station) as we did before without a sprinkler system,” Hawley said. He was referring to the fact fire codes will not allow the station to be used for public events without a fire suppression system.
He said he thinks the company is re-considering its decision.
The company also will not cover some of the architectural costs, which Hawley estimated at $5,000 to $10,000.